Our Process
Pre-production
Everything begins with research. What’s your company like? Who are your clients? Every important detail about your business is researched and helps contribute to the final product.
After research, a hierarchy is developed and revised to ensure that your web site delivers your content to the customer as effectively as possible.
Design
Once the hierarchy is resolved, a template is roughed out (wireframes) and a series of mockup illustrations are created for you to approve. Refinements are made to the design until you are completely satisfied. Application components, such as databases, e-commerce and content management, are designed and verified so they meet your needs.
Development
Databases, ecommerce integration, administrative components, management and monitoring tools, and any necessary security features are are built into the website using relevant technologies.
Testing and more testing
After the web site is constructed it’s run through a gauntlet of web browsers to ensure that it works on bothPCs and Macs using several different web applications. Every computer is different, but everything possible is done to ensure that your web site always appears the way you intended it to.
Accessibility
This is especially important to your readers with disabilities, such as visual impairments, so that they may access your site and its content. People with disabilities often use special software (ex: screen readers) or devices in addition to standard web browsers to access content on the web. We do everything we can to ensure that your site is built to cater to these applications. This step is often required by law for government and educational organizations, but is a responsible step to include the entire community nonetheless.
Usability & Usability Testing
Usability is often overlooked by most web companies. Having a great looking site is one thing, having a great looking site that makes sense to users is another. We study the hierarchy and positioning of every aspect of the site to make sure the content is available and easy to navigate.
We are experts in usability, but even the experts can make mistakes. That’s why we incorporate usability testing into the sites we build. It can be hard to create a web site that is intuitive to users; only usability testing can ensure that the site makes as much sense as possible. We test the site with users within your target audience to ensure that your content can be accessed easily and efficiently. Their feedback is incorporated into the web site before it is completed.
The Little Details
We pay attention to every aspect of your site, even the little details. It’s not enough to create a great web site if the small things are overlooked: browser titles, privacy policies (required by law in Canada), even the little icon (favicon) a viewer sees when they add your site to their bookmarks. Everything is done to make sure that you can give the full package to your viewers.
The Launch (Deployment)
A web site serves little purpose if it’s not online. We make sure that the search engines (such as Google) know that you’re out there. When your site is ready to go online, we take care of it all.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Everyone hopes to make it to the top of a Google results page. It’s great to promise that your site will be in the Top 5 (or even the Top 10), but nobody can promise that. If they do, they’re lying! What can be promised is that everything that can be done to get you to the top of that list will be done. We are constantly researching and reviewing ways to get you to the top — after all, the higher you are, the better it reflects on everyone.
Measurement & Analytics
Your site is online, but is it successful? We can track and measure every aspect of your site’s performance. A review of your site’s data analytics will help tell you who is using your site and how they are doing it.
Maintenance & Management
Your company keeps changing and growing so why shouldn’t your web site? We can add and manage your site’s features and ensure that it’s as up to date as your company — after all, who knows your site better than the company that built it?